Al-Ubeidiya Sabaya Center

In their workroom located in the village of Ubeidya, Bethlehem, a group of local Palestinian women create beautiful tunics with traditional design motifs embroidered using cross stitch and tahriri (or rishiq) stitches.

As many as eight women currently work from their homes embroidering the designs on rectangular pieces of cloth.  The embroidered pieces of cloth are then returned to the workroom in Ubeidiya where the pattern templates are laid over the cloth to cut out the tunic.  The workroom houses ten sewing machines; women in the workroom sew the tunics.

The Women’s Center has been supported and encouraged by The Danish House in Ramallah (www.dhip.ps) which has offered the women five-day intensive workshops which train the women on adding new fabric colors (traditional dresses are made mostly on black or red cloth) and “developing traditional patterns so designs can match the contemporary fashion”.  Danish House has also organized two exhibitions for women to show their work and become known in the textile market. Networking with others is so important to the women.

UBEIDIYA DESIGNS receives custom orders for their tunics through their facebook page,

which displays various seasonal clothing for women and children. Their peak season is generally November through January as many items are custom ordered for holiday gift-giving.

The products are also promoted by UN women and the local community.  In addition to their embroidered goods, the women make and sell pastries, bread and pickles.

The women welcome the cooperative efforts of the The Palestinian Heritage Trail which works to promote tourism through its hiking program  and supports local economies and helps market and promote handcrafts and food products made by local artisans and cooperatives.

In addition to generating income for the women of the cooperative, by working with The Palestinian Heritage Trail, these women will network with other organizations and participate in a rich cultural exchange with visitors to Palestine.

Contact: Banan Al Asa 0598045865